Eph 3:6-8 The Best of the Least

Eph. 3:6 to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel,

Eph. 3:7 of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power.

Eph. 3:8 To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ,

As Paul discusses his placement into the ministry, 

he makes mention of his feeling of unworthiness. 

He then explains the means by which he will accomplish the task, namely, through God’s power.

Why does he call himself the least of the saints ?

1 Cor. 15:9
For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

1 Tim. 1:13
even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in disbelief

1 Tim. 1:15b
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. (chief)

1 Corinthians was written between 56-57 AD

Ephesians was written between 60-62 AD

1 Timothy was written between 64-65 AD

9 years spanning his calling himself unworthy, chief among sinners, least  of all the saints

is Paul struggling with 

• a negative confession, (describing oneself as if in pre-converted state)
• poor self image, (overly focused on past sins)
• strung up in his sin nature (overly focused on present sins)
• false humility (talking down about himself to sound humble)

Eph 3:8
least of the saints <followed by> grace was given me

1 Cor 15:9
least of the saints, unfit to be called an apostle
<followed by>
1 Cor 15:10
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I,  but the grace of God with me

1 Tim. 1:15b ^…
chief among sinners
<followed by>
1Tim. 1:16 Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.

Paul is quite simply offering a testimony of the power of the grace of God.

Grace

• given Eph 3:8
• it defines him 1 Cor 15:9 (I am what I am)
• not in vain but works through me (1 Cor 15:10)
• appointed to me exactly because of who I was (1 Tim 1:16)
• demonstration of His perfect patience and example to be seen by others (1 Tim 1:16)

Paul writes in detail regarding his personal struggle with his old heart continuing to try to run the show in sin while his new heart, given to him as part of his new nature does not want to sin.

if there was any place in scripture for a man to focus on his sins and start condemning himself for still messing up the end of Romans 7 would be the place

Rom. 7:24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?

Rom. 7:25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.

Rom. 8:1 ¶ Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Rom. 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus

So if Paul understands that our Father sees, with such complete satisfaction, the death of His Son to cover us why does Paul still call himself unworthy ?

Paul is playing both fields in his testimony of God’s grace

• I persecuted the the body of Christ (in my flesh I am unworthy=have not earned any forgiveness from God)
• I am not any more deserving of His grace in my converted born-again state either (it’s still His grace working through me, not my doing at all)

Ephesians 2:4-10

Eph. 2:4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,

Eph. 2:5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

Eph. 2:6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

Eph. 2:7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

Eph. 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;

Eph. 2:9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Eph. 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

Paul is actually so confident in this grace working through him, that he also writes

2Cor. 11:5 For I consider myself not in the least inferior to the most eminent apostles.

2Cor. 11:6 But even if I am unskilled in speech, yet I am not so in knowledge; in fact, in every way we have made this evident to you in all things.

translation: “I’m just as good as the best of the apostles you’ve heard. I may not be a smooth or eloquent speaker, but I know what I am talking about and you know it”

1 Cor 15:10
But by the grace of God I am what I am

God knows exactly what He made me to be and His grace gets me there

Eph. 3:7 of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power.

Eph. 3:8 To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ,

He was made a minister, according to the gift of Grace of God, according to the working of His power.

Is there anyone here who thinks they are less empowered than Paul ?

Is there anyone here who thinks that God made then to be a “space-filler” in the body of Christ ?

You don’t know His grace very well!

Last week, I asked everyone to read 1 Cor 12.

Did anyone find the spiritual gift of “DUNCEL” in those verses ??

What is a DUNCEL ?

dunsel

• Something (especially part of a vessel that is superfluous or unneeded.
• A captain of a vessel who has no authority

There are no DUNCELS in the body of Christ

Meaning everyone here is equipped to minister His grace 

no matter what you may insist are your weaknesses or failings

in fact, Paul seems to imply that your weaknesses, faults, and past are part of the reason He may have called you in the first place, so that He might display His power and grace through you (because of all that “junk”)

I call Paul the best of the least because while he

• calls himself the least
• he rests in God using him at his best
• he does not let his “Leastness” stop him from being his best

Are you willing to surrender your protection mechanism and let Him use you more ?

rather that possibly hiding behind “I cant do that, I’m just little ole me”

ask

“what could God be wanting to do if I would trust Him more than I trust myself?”

Let’s say we have 3 vessels before us…

1. The first one is decorative. It is pleasing to the eye, would likely complement the décor of the living room or whatever room it is placed. While it is not used to carry anything, it is on the shelf to be admired.
2. The second one is flawless but it is designed for practical purposes.
3. The third one is neither decorative nor flawless. It has a crack.

Which one of these vessels relates to you?

Which one is God most likely to use?

Are you a decorative vessel to be highly regarded for your appearance?

Are you a flawless vessel who is perfected and functional?

Or… Are you a cracked pot?

God is the potter. We are the clay

In Jeremiah 18 God tells Jeremiah to arise and go down to the potter’s house. Watching the potter working with the clay, Jeremiah noticed that the shape of the clay was spoiled, deformed, was not developing to the shape that the potter had envisioned. So the instead of discarding the clay, he clumps and kneads the clay and starts over.

God gave this illustration to tell His people that He is the potter and that His people are the clay. And if His people are willing to give up their old ways, repent and be re-fashioned, God willing to make us his masterpiece.

Isaiah 64:8 – It clearly says, God is the potter, we are the clay and that all of us are the work of His hands.

God is the supreme-being. We are merely dirt and water. We do not shape God. God shapes us. And if we ever get out of shape, God is willing to re fashion us provided that we accept His divine will even if it means repenting of our old ways.

1 Cor 1:27 God chooses the foolish things of the world to confound the wise

Eph. 3:6 to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel,

Eph. 3:7 of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power.

Eph. 3:8 To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ,

according to who’s gift ?

according to the working of who’s power ?

Gentiles are equal heirs to the inheritance and fellow valued members of the body, equally shattering in the promise of the Gospel because of His grace revealed in Christ.

I have been made a minister of this gospel, according to His gift of grace, a working of His power in me and through me, even though I have a past that would disqualify me, so that He might show the immeasurable power of this grace because of the very weaknesses I have told you about, so that all might see. 

I am able to confidently serve His body, not because of who I am in my own deeds or accomplishments,. but because of his grace and power working in me despite my deeds and accomplishments.
I am saved by grace, freed by grace, empowered by grace, and can only boast in His grace.

Let’s stop being the least of the least (in our false humility)

and start being the best of the least